Comparison of cruise liners
This is not a comparison of all cruise liners, just those that I have travelled
on. The table contains the objective ship facts for comparisons, the reviews
contain the subjective impressions of the ship and crew.
These are not contemporary comparisons but are our views of the ships we have
travelled on and in that time cruise lines standards have gone up and down. We
have seen this. Comparison reviews are difficult as they are subjective, what
matters to one person may be inconsequential to the next. Seek out as many
different views as you can and remember to assess the reviewer. Ignore those
who just say "it was awful, don't travel with them"; opinion without reasons is useless.
You could always tell with a Barry Norman film review whether you were likely to enjoy it
or not, and this was in dependant of whether he enjoyed or not. So it was with
Roger Ebert. That is the sort of cruise review you need to look out for, one
that tells you what is good and what is bad, not whether the reviewer liked it or not.
Cruise Ship |
Length | Beam | Decks | Call sign |
Tonnage | Cabins | Passengers | Crew |
|
Doug Beckers |
811 ft | 105 ft | 11 decks | GRFP |
63786 grt | 775 cabins | 1400 passengers | 700 crew |
|
|
781 ft | 105.8 ft | 10 decks | PDAN |
61, 396 grt | 720 cabins | 1432 passengers | 615 crew |
|
|
719 ft | 101 ft | 10 decks | PHFV |
55,819 grt | 631 cabins | 1260 passengers | 580 crew |
|
|
774 ft | 102 ft | 10 decks | |
55,000 grt | all balcony cabins | 999 passengers | 530 crew |
|
|
726 ft | 92 ft | 9 decks | C6BR5 |
46,052 grt | 726 cabins | 1250 passengers | crew |
|
|
674.2 ft | 91.8 ft | 9 decks | PBGH |
37,848 grt | 398 cabins | 740 passengers | 480 crew |
|
|
594 ft | 83 ft | 9 decks | ZCDS4 |
30,277 grt | 345 cabins | 688 passengers | 373 crew |
|
|
594 ft | 83 ft | 9 decks | |
30,277 grt | 345 cabins | 688 passengers | 373 crew |
|
|
674 ft | 83 ft | 8 decks | |
28,613 grt | 423 cabins | 804 passengers | 330 crew |
|
Jorge Andrade |
642 ft | 73 ft | 8 decks | C6SY7 |
24,344 grt | 485 cabins | 929 passengers | 371 crew |
Refit at Blohm and Voss |
|
|
578.35 ft | 77.26 ft | 8 decks | C6JZ7 |
19,860 grt | 422 cabins | 820 passengers | 356 crew |
|
|
539 ft | 74 ft | decks | |
18,591 grt | cabins | 512 passengers | 220 crew |
|
|
| | 8 decks | |
15,614 grt | cabins | 556 passengers | crew |
|
|
500 ft | 68 ft | 7 decks | C6WC2 |
15,396 grt | 270 cabins | 540 passengers | crew |
|
Cruise Ship |
Our views |
other Reviews |
|
Doug Beckers |
This is the biggest ship we have been on, but it didn't seem any worse than a small one.
Unlike the magellan there were no problems with the deesign, it seemed like a cruise ship,
not a ferry. The library rival the R-class ships (Ocean Princess, Pacific Princess, et al.)
It feels like there is plenty of room, there were only 1200 passengers rather than 1400,
the full complement, but eveen if full it would be OK for us, no noticeable queuing. |
C&MV,
Cruise Critics
Wikipedia. |
|
|
A long time since we were on her. Liked the forward open bow deck. |
HAL,
Cruise Critics,
SeaScanner,
Wikipedia. |
|
|
Didn't like the design. The shopping mall was like a cross channel ferry
and having to go up and down again just to get from the front to the back was stupid. |
HAL,
Cruise Critics,
SeaScanner,
Wikipedia. |
|
|
Enters service in 2019 replacing Saga Pearl II. Early information looks good, this could
become our ship of choice. |
Cruise Critics,
Saga Travel. |
|
|
More spacious than the Marco Polo but less interesting ship. All the
accommodation is on the lower decks and the amenities on the upper decks.
The two main restaurants are separated by the kitchen which runs the whole width of
the ship. If you find that you are at the wrong one you can not get to
the other without going up a deck along and back down again (or the other way round).
If the weather is bad they switch off the lifts leaving only lift 7 midships working.
This prevents access to the Waldorf by wheelchair. Poor design. |
Cruise Maritime,
Cruise Critics,
Wikipedia. |
|
|
Used to be our favourite ship and still would be if she sailed more UK itineraries and
HAL service had not gone down. Love the wrap round promenade, crows nest. |
HAL,
Cruise Critics,
SeaScanner,
Wikipedia. |
|
|
Replaced the Prinsendam as our favourite ship after HAL service deteriorated until
she was sold. |
Princess Cruises,
Cruise Critics,
SeaScanner,
Wikipedia. |
|
|
Identical to Oceean Princess except for superficial decor differences |
Wikipedia,
Cruise Critics,
SeaScanner.
|
|
|
Similar to the Marco Polo in that there is a lot packed in and there is plenty to
explore on the ship with places for good photography. One feature we
particularly like is the cinema. OK it projects DVDs, but it is proper
raked room with cinema style (comfortable) seating. not just an ordinary room where
you can't see the screen because of peoples heads. Lately the films have been shown
at ackward times (between dinner sittings). Cabin doors slam and cabin furniture is
noisy, a lot of disturbance from neighbours unless you are lucky. |
Fred Oulsen,
Cruise Critics,
Wikipedia. |
|
Jorge Andrade |
Much quieter than Black Watch, we prefer this. No cinema, but they are not making
good use of it now on the Black Watch. |
Wikipedia,
Cruise Critics,
Fred Olsen. |
|
|
Hated by some but loved by others. We have found here OK, but a little
cramped. They have squeezed a lot of passengers in to a small ship at
the expense of lounge areas. Good visibility. Magellan has more space (some
empty) but feels less friendly in comparison. |
Cruise Maritime,
Cruise Critics,
Wikipedia. |
|
|
Due to sail on her next year |
Wikipedia,
Cruise Critics,
Saga Travel.
| |
|
Due to sail on her next year |
Wikipedia,
Cruise Critics,
Cruise and Maritime. |
|
|
The smallest of the ships we have sailed on and the most friendly. The
crew all made you feel at home and nothing was too much trouble. It
was not just that they realised happy customers are good for the line and in the
long run for them as well. They really seemed to enjoy their job.
Sadly the cruise line is no longer trading. |
Voyages of Discovery,
Cruise Critics,
|
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